The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged

by Marissa Honeycutt

  “He knows that I know you and Aaron, but not much more than that. I believe he will learn the truth this morning.” He tugged gently on her hair and she lifted her head to look at him. “Is that all right?”

  Anna knew he was asking if she needed more time to decide if she wanted to be with him. But she didn’t. She knew that she was where she belonged. Her heart twinged with sadness when she thought of Hugo, but she couldn’t change the truth. She belonged with Alex.

  She nodded. “You don’t need to hide who you are. I am your wife. You are my husband.” She gave him a tender smile. “I think I’d like to put my wedding rings back on.”

  His eyes lit up and he grinned. “Oh, Schatzi. You have made me the happiest of men.” He kissed her full on the mouth and then rolled her to her side. “Does that mean you’re willing to live with me?”

  “A wife should live with her husband, shouldn’t she?”

  “Ja. Most definitely.”

  *****

  “I don’t have a housekeeper,” Alex said apologetically, handing her a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. “Tony’s the shortest one among us.”

  Anna barely heard him, her eyes being transfixed on his chest. He was wearing only a snug-fitting pair of dark blue jeans and he looked unbelievably sexy, she could hardly think of anything else. “Huh?”

  He chuckled and walked over to her, bending down and kissing her on her mouth. “I like how you look at me.”

  She shrugged sheepishly. “You are very nice to look at.” She glanced up into his face. “What did you say?”

  He laughed. “I said, I don’t have a housekeeper. At least, not a live-in one. Frau Gersten would have had your dress cleaned already.” He handed her the clothes again and this time she took them. “I know they’re big, but I don’t have anything smaller. I didn’t expect you to stay the night so soon.”

  Anna bit her lip. “Should I not have?”

  Alex knelt down in front of her and cradled her cheek. “I am very happy that you did. Very happy. I am even happier that you’ve decided to stay with me.”

  “Me too.”

  Alex’s phone rang on the nightstand and he reached for it. “Vati,” he said, looking at it. “Get dressed and I’ll take you home so you can get to class.” He answered the phone in German and stood and walked to the window.

  After she pulled on the much-too-big clothes, Anna went to the spacious bathroom and found a comb to work through her hair and then washed her face as well as she could. Alex had good skincare items, but they were not designed to remove makeup.

  Alex came in a few minutes later and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Tomorrow you will have your own stuff here.” He kissed her cheek and turned her around. “Vati and Kurt arrived a little while ago. They left Chicago as soon as the funeral Gathering was finished. They’re going to rest and then perhaps we can meet them for lunch?”

  Anna bit her lip. She still felt the sting of hurt when she thought of Wilhelm and Kurt. “If you’d like,” she said softly.

  Alex cocked his head. “Anna, if you don’t want to, say so.”

  She swallowed nervously and stared at his chest. “They...I know they didn’t do it on purpose, but they hurt me. The last time I saw your dad....” She sighed. “I know I should see them, but I don’t really want to.”

  Alex tilted her head up and gave her a gentle smile. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

  “You can go, though.”

  He made a face. “I’d rather have lunch with you than them.”

  Anna giggled, making him grin.

  “How about I go to lunch with you, and then while you are rehearsing this afternoon, I will go see them?”

  Anna nodded. “I shouldn’t have rehearsal too late, though. I’m not in Swan Lake.” Swan Lake was all this week, except Thursday night, which was the gala and Hugo’s ballet. “Hugo’s ballet will probably be right after lunch.”

  He nodded. “I was thinking that I would call Simon and have him arrange some movers to bring your belongings over here, hopefully this evening. But if that’s not possible, then tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” She grinned. She liked that idea. “Who is Simon? I mean. I know who he is, but what is his relation to you?”

  Alex chuckled. “Simon is the youngest son of Edwin Reisig, Elder of Bavaria. He’s lived here for several years, working for Deutsche Bank, and when I was planning on moving out here, Edwin suggested that I get in touch with him. He agreed to be my face-man.”

  “I’ve met Edwin,” Anna said softly. “He’s very nice.”

  He nodded. “My father and he are good friends. It was Edwin who asked around, seeing who would support Vati in trying to reclaim you at Vitaly’s funeral.”

  Anna smiled softly. “Then I must thank him doubly the next time I see him.” Alex frowned, making Anna giggle. “I just meant to give him a sincere thank you, not a mind-blowing blowjob.” She giggled again. “Will you be this possessive forever?”

  “Ja.”

  She grinned. “I don’t mind at all.”

  *****

  Alex felt very different walking into the theater today as opposed to the day before. Today he was holding Anna’s hand: her right hand with her wedding ring back in its proper place. She had even given him his ring back that she’d been given when she was told he was dead.

  Vitaly had yanked it off his finger, telling him that he would send it to Anna so she’d know he was dead. The tears in her eyes when she’d put it back on his finger showed him how difficult that had been for her. Its heavy weight was comforting and he would never, ever take it off again.

  Anna was shaking slightly as they walked through the backstage area and he squeezed her hand gently. She was nervous about what her friends would think about her and Alex being together. Especially since she hadn’t told anyone that her engagement with Kurt had been called off. It was never supposed to be a real engagement, only for her to have some security while Alex was taking care of things. It hadn’t worked out the way it was supposed to.

  They walked into the wings and Anna stopped, looking out onto the stage from the shadows at her friends. Aaron hadn’t been home this morning when they’d gone to her apartment.

  “Ready?” he asked gently, squeezing her hand again.

  She took a deep breath and nodded. “At least, I think so.”

  He kissed her soundly and then walked out to the audience area with Seth while she made her way to the stage. The bright smile on her face made his heart melt, knowing he had at least something to do with that. She certainly had something to do with the smile on his own face.

  Greg and Tony had the day off. He decided he didn’t need to walk around with three armed men. If there was trouble, they were only a few blocks away. Few people knew he was alive, no one would come looking for him.

  Vincent saw him and walked over to greet him. “You look happy this morning,” he commented with a smile.

  Alex couldn’t keep the grin from spreading across his face and he shrugged sheepishly. “I am.”

  Vincent’s brow raised high. “Would it be impertinent to ask why?”

  Alex chuckled and nodded in Anna’s direction. “Look at her hands.”

  “Katrina?” Vincent gave him a strange look and then squinted.

  It was difficult not to notice the sparkles on her left hand. She wore several karats of high quality diamonds on that left ring finger.

  “That’s not her engagement ring, is it?”

  “It is. It’s her real engagement ring. And wedding ring.”

  Vincent squinted again. “She is wearing the other ring she wore when she arrived....” He glanced at Alex. “She got married?”

  “She’s been married. She is my wife and has been for almost five years.”

  Vincent stared at him. “Wait, I thought...you were supposed to be dead.”

  “Yes. I was, but I’m not. She was told I was dead, as was everyone else. Aaron, too.” Alex smiled as he glanced at his friend stretching on
stage. “You’ve met Devin Andersen?”

  Vincent’s face turned dark. “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “He had me taken so that he could have Anna to himself. The reason she came here was so that we could be reunited and I could...take care of Devin.” It was nowhere close to the whole story, but Vincent needed to stay ignorant of the details.

  Vincent studied Anna for a long minute. “She seems...lighter than I’ve ever seen her.” He smiled affectionately at her. “She’s practically glowing.”

  “Anna in love is the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen,” Alex said softly, gazing at his beloved.

  “I can’t disagree with that.” He turned his smile to Alex. “You can keep her safe?”

  Alex nodded solemnly. “When Devin came here a few weeks ago, I kept him from finding her.”

  “Good.”

  They chatted for a few more minutes and then Vincent went onstage to speak to his assistant. Alex settled into the seat next to Seth. He gazed at Anna as she moved into position and began the warm-ups. God, he loved that woman! “How am I going to leave her to go out on another job, Seth?”

  *****

  Aaron could tell, just by looking at her, that Anna and Alex had gotten back together. She radiated happiness, which made her even more unbelievably beautiful. He would see the straight guys watching her from time to time, she was so fucking sexy, but today, they almost couldn’t take their eyes off her.

  ‘Course, the sparkling left hand also made it painfully obvious that she and Alex were together again.

  Hugo walked up to him with a resigned look on his face. “If I were a selfish man, I would be angry,” he said in a quiet voice, looking at her with longing in his eyes.

  Aaron’s heart went out to him. He knew exactly how Hugo felt. “It’s not easy getting over her.”

  “Did you get over her?”

  He shook his head. “I still love her.” He gave Hugo a lopsided grin. “I gave up trying to find someone like her.”

  “Are you saying I should give up and try playing for the other team?”

  Aaron laughed. “Have you ever had any inclination towards that?”

  Hugo shook his head and grinned. “Never been attracted to men.”

  “There’s some nice girls out there,” Aaron said encouragingly. “There’s not another Katrina, but...there couldn’t be.”

  Hugo stiffened and Aaron followed his gaze to where Jasmine had just come out on stage. A few people that had been out with them gave her dirty looks, but she didn’t seem to notice. She had a slight smile on her face and she looked...happy?

  Aaron instantly searched out Alex and stormed over to him. “Did you fucking sleep with Jasmine?”

  Alex’s eyes widened. “Why the hell would you ask me a question like that? Of course not.”

  Aaron motioned up to the stage where Jasmine was sitting quietly and changing shoes. “Why is she...happy?”

  “Did you know that her father was an alcoholic?” Alex asked calmly.

  “What? I...no.” What the fuck did that have to do with anything?

  “He was very neglectful and emotionally abusive.”

  Aaron gave Alex a look. “What the hell does that have to do with anything? And how do you know?”

  “Sebastian and I were going to erase her memories of Devin to eliminate the threat for Anna, but when we began to do so, we saw the hurt that caused her to act the way she does.” Alex smiled. “Sebastian healed her.”

  Aaron stared at Alex for a long moment and then turned to look at Jasmine, who was talking to Anna with a kind expression on her face. She was definitely different today. “He can do that?”

  “Immortals can do all sorts of things.”

  Anna hugged Jasmine and gave her a friendly smile and Jasmine looked...sincerely happy. He'd never seen that woman look that way.

  “Give her a chance, Aaron. If you do, the others will. She acted out from her past hurts.”

  Aaron made a face. “Fine.”

  *****

  Anna looked around with a hint of nostalgia at her empty room. She would miss living with Aaron, but Alex being alive changed so many things. All for the good.

  The movers had come as soon as she arrived back at the apartment after rehearsal. They’d helped her pack and were delivering her items as she stood there. Alex was out in the other room talking to Aaron, giving her a few minutes to herself.

  Her friends in the company had been very supportive of her relationship with Alex, especially when they found out that Alex was the person who could keep Devin away from her. Everyone knew who Devin was and more than one said that they never wanted him to visit again.

  Jasmine had been a big surprise this morning. Anna could see that something was different about her. She seemed more peaceful. When she came to apologize to Anna for her behavior, she seemed genuinely sincere. Not like before. Anna would still be a little wary around her, though.

  Tonight she had to face Wilhelm and Kurt. She wasn’t looking forward to that. For one, she and Alex hadn’t had much time alone. She still hadn’t heard how he had escaped or what he’d gone through while he was captured. She didn’t know what would happen between now and Tyler’s funeral.

  “Anna?” Alex walked into the room and gave her a bright smile. “Ready?” He glanced over to the window with a slight smile on his face.

  Anna followed his gaze and realized he was looking at the spot where he’d appeared to her in her dream. Or rather.... “That wasn’t a dream, was it?” she asked. “When I dreamed of you.”

  Alex looked a little ashamed. “No. Sebastian helped me. I...I couldn’t let you get too involved with Hugo. I knew I was returning soon, and—”

  “You came to keep me from getting too close to Hugo?” Anna gave him a bewildered look. “That’s why you came? You were jealous?”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Alex saw that Anna was upset about why he’d come to her, but he couldn’t have not come. He thought back to that afternoon...

  “She has a what?” Alex exclaimed loudly. Vati had just told him about Anna killing her guardian, which to be honest, was a little frightening. Then Vati told him that she now had a boyfriend. That was more disturbing than the thought of Anna committing murder. At least Jack deserved it.

  Vati gave him a sympathetic look. “I know, Alex. Tom says he’s a good guy—”

  “That’s my wife!” Alex shouted. He studied his father for a moment. Something about his expression made him wonder what else happened. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Wilhelm sighed. “Tom said that she’s taken off her wedding ring.”

  Alex stared at his father as his heart broke. She’d moved on. She’d given up on him. He looked down at his right hand and twisted the ring that he’d worn for so long. He shook his head and left his father’s study without saying another word.

  He found himself in the rose garden a few minutes later. He sat down hard on the cement bench and stared at the ground, twisting his ring on his finger.

  Was he being selfish? Should he just let her go? If she found a man who would take care of her—

  “No!” he exclaimed. He wouldn’t give up on her without a fight. He’d come too many miles to give up so easily. What would happen if Devin found her? This other man wouldn’t be able to protect her. He would likely get killed. Then she would be even worse off.

  No, he had to convince her to return to him. He had to! But how?

  He heard a movement behind him and turned to find Sebastian walking towards him.

  “I heard what happened,” Sebastian said as he stopped in front of him. “She’s strong, Alex. She’ll be okay.”

  “She has a boyfriend,” he growled.

  “Ah. They’ve become serious.”

  Alex shook his head. “I should have gone back already.”

  “You can’t Alex. You’re not ready. Soon. You have to be patient.”

  “What if he falls in love with her? What if she falls in love with him?”
He looked up at his friend. “I need to talk to her, but she doesn’t dream of me anymore....”

  Sebastian looked troubled. “I know.”

  “You know she shouldn’t be with him?”

  The Immortal nodded. “He won’t be able to protect her.”

  “Then what can I do? Can I make her dream of me? Can you make her dream of me?” The look on Sebastian’s face made his heart pound. “It’s possible?”

  Sebastian pressed his lips together. “I’m not supposed to do that sort of thing.”

  “But you can?”

  “I could with an Elder. It’s possible. I can’t teleport you. You don’t have any Immortal in you.”

  Alex cocked his brow. “What?”

  “When Elders become Elders, they...we imbue them with a bit of ourselves. That’s why you become an Elder the way you do.” He paused and looked thoughtful. “It would give you the ability to protect her,” he said softly. “I need to speak to your father.”

  Sebastian disappeared suddenly and Alex sighed. How could he get through to Anna?

  *****

  Wilhelm sat back in his study and listened to Sebastian explain his thoughts on giving Alex a share of Immortal essence.

  “I won’t do it unless you are all right with it, Wilhelm. I know my brothers won’t approve, but I’m most concerned, at this point, of offending you. Your son would have some Elder abilities.”

  “Is there anything dangerous about it?”

  Sebastian shook his head. “Not unless you are concerned about him challenging your leadership.”

  Wilhelm chuckled. “No. I know my son respects me.”

  “I agree. I trust him completely.” Sebastian chewed his lip for a moment. “I think it would also be helpful when he confronts Devin.”

  Wilhelm tilted his head. “Would he be more of Devin’s match?”

  “I believe so. Nothing like this has ever happened before, but it seems logical. Unless Devin’s other Elders band together with him against Alex.”